Old vehicle title problem - GA to TX
 

Thought I'd post just in case anyone is familiar...

I'm trying to buy an old truck ('75 IH Travelall) which is currently in GA. I'm in TX.

GA does not require vehicles older than '85 to be titled.

I got a copy, from the seller, of the title and current registration...

It's currently registered in seller's name, in GA.

The title is an Idaho title, with a dealer transfer (from the original ID owners to dealer) handwritten on the front. It also has a dealer reassignment handwritten on the back - to seller's best friend.

Seller's best friend never completed the title transfer.

When I called my county DMV, I was initially told no title, no tag, registration, etc. - and that was when they thought I already bought the vehicle - basically said I was out of luck. I was then told that the original GA registration would have a section for transferring ownership. Seller reviewed his paperwork and found no such transfer section.

Seller believes GA requires a simple bill of sale for proof of ownership transfer. I am used to having to sign a title over to buyer.

Has anyone here ever dealt with something like this?

Thanks!
Skip

Re: Old vehicle title problem - GA to TX
 

Even though it's not required, can the seller get a title? That would solve everything.

Re: Re: Old vehicle title problem - GA to TX
 

We don't think so.

Originally, seller tried to get title in his name. But, since it was reassigned in seller's friend's name, DMV wouldn't do a title transfer. But, since title is not required, they would register it.

Now that it's registered in seller's name, we don't think we could complete the original title transfer to seller's friend, since seller's ownership is on record.

We don't think he can do a lost title, since it was never in his name.

- Skip

This may help you.

For a replacement (duplicate original) of a LOST or DESTROYED title: According to GA regs, whomever was the last TITLE holder must request a replacement title. It may then be transferred to you from the title holder. No assignee may obtain a replacement title.

If the current owner has a title document that is assigned to him, he can get a title in his name in these circumstances:
a) You can title a 1963-1985 year model vehicle if the owner on the front of the title has assigned the title to you.
b) You can title a 1963-1985 year model vehicle if the owner on the front of the title has assigned the title to a dealer and the dealer has assigned the title to you.
c) A title will not be issued for a 1963-1985 year model vehicle if the vehicle has been registered in someone else's name(s) other than the owner(s) shown on the face of the Georgia title.

If any of these are applicable, have him get a title in his name and then he can transfer it to you WITH A TITLE.

Thanks Cash. But, I don't "think" this can help.

Title assignee is seller's best friend. It is registered in seller's name. According to item C above (and also what I confirmed verbally with GA DMV), they will not issue a title.

I could try and contact the "last title holder", but they are in Idaho - and who knows if I could even find them, if they're alive and if they'd be willing to go through the hassle of doing work on a vehicle they sold long ago.

I'm going to TX DMV in a few minutes to see if there are any other options. It is not uncommon for GA vehicles to be title-less, so there must be some kind of workaround.

Thanks again,
Skip

I know this won't make you feel any better:
I bought a GA car on Bill of Sale - perfectly legal there.
I eventually ended up stripping it for parts, then having the shell crushed - all because of the GA title issue. SC would not touch it.

There used to be a company that would "handle" this by running the BOS through some third state, then a title back to the owner. Not sure if they ever caught on and closed it down.

Try a Pelican search - I remember there was a thread about this a year or so back.

EDIT:
Okay... from the other thread, it is advised that you check the Hemmings Motor News magazine for "title assistance" services.

Or, alternatively, check to see if Texas has an option to title "abandoned" vehicles.

Something like this: http://www.broadwaytitle.com/

Hi -

You are getting lot's of very good info here , but it is somewhat confusing to someone outside Georgia.

Basically the state does not " require " the older vehicles (15 years) to be titled , they will issue a title upon request however there are a couple of pit falls to this.

If when you buy the vehicle from the current Georgia owner he never titled it, but instead just got a registration then he will be unable to ever get a title to the car, period end of story.

As to going back to owners privous to him that WILL NOT work as when the VIN is ran at the tag office they will see that the car has been registered since then and WILL NOT re-issue a title.

As to the registrations having a reassignment on them , NOT.
Our registration's are small grey post card sized items which are basically two parts , one half is your receipt for payment of tax on your vehicle (read property tax) and the other half is your registration, there is no reassignment section of any type.

Car's are sold here with bill's of sale all the time, if taken out of state most states will issue titles for them, GA is not the only state that does this.

The other thing you can try is see if he has a previous title which is still open to transfer you can always just skip over the GA registration in that case by using the old title and just going to your DMV with it.

Todd SmileWavy

OK. Just got back from my local DMV. Whoever I initially spoke to over the phone was just plain wrong. The lady I spoke to face-to-face was very helpful. As K9Torro says, this is done all the time and is a non-issue - at least in TX.

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Thanks for all the help!

Skip

Glad it worked out for you,

Todd SmileWavy

Hey, I have a similar problem, Georgia bill of sale only. Can you tell me what you did?

I bought my Series III from GA with no title (it actually had a UK title) and didn't have a problem. DMV gave me a detailed BOS to fill out and then issued a title.